FG partners private companies to rehabilitate Apapa-Wharf Road; Dangote Group leads the way

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, has officially handed over the construction works on the rehabilitation of Apapa – Wharf road to AG-Dangote Construction Company Limited.

The Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, performed the handing over ceremony of the 2 kilometres stretch of the road in Lagos to ensure free movement of residents living in Apapa area and cargo moving in and out of the Apapa Port to the inter-land. He noted that the rehabilitation of the economic road which had deteriorated over the years will be co-funded by the collaborative efforts of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc and Dangote Group of Company.

Fashola acknowledged the leadership role of Dangote Group and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc for stepping forward to work with the ministry in finding a lasting solution to the road without any tax relief or deduction coming from the federal government.

According to the Minister, the ministry has evolved an appropriate design to fix the drainage problem which over the years has been the major cause of deterioration.. The rehabilitation work on the Apapa – Wharf road is expected to last for the period of one year and will cost over 4 billion naira which will be co-funded by Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Dangote Group and NPA working together.

The Minister further stated that this is just the first part of government intervention in Apapa, adding that other federal roads within Lagos State will receive government attention as budget is funded.

He appealed to all road users within the area to be patient as construction work advances due to sections of the road that would be closed down and other infrastructures such as water and electricity that will be affected during the process of the reconstruction.

In his remarks, the Honorary Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, Engr. Joseph Makoju, thanked the Minister for giving Dangote Group the opportunity to embark on the rehabilitation work and promised that the concrete road when completed will last for between 30 to 40 years.

Makoju added that the company always provide some form of social infrastructures to empower their host communities economically wherever the company is located. He appealed to the government to always create an enabling environment for private sectors to thrive as this will encourage other companies like them to embark on other capital projects in the country.

The Managing Director of Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Mr. Paul M. Gbededo, noted that Apapa-Wharf road is a major road in the country that generates a huge sum of money on a daily basis and should not be handled with levity.

He enjoined all the stakeholders and road users to cooperate and be disciplined in order to achieve the one year time line completion period.